Shadows Arising *ON HOLD*

Chapter 4 - Lucky

'As humans we tend to surround ourselves by things and we forget who we are, and the very fact that we are human. It's then, that those little things that we take for granted, remind us that we are human and we our no one else but ourselves.'

'It's so easy to forget that we are indeed human, but we are nothing else. We are alike each other and completely different. We are one and the same, yet we are many and different. We are human and have humanity but we can still be human without it. It's a choice, as many things are. But the choices we are given, they are not necessarily good, bad, right or wrong. However there can be better choices, but are we not human? Being human does not mean perfection and it doesn't mean not making mistakes.'

"Okay, you two go together, I've still gotta go get what we came 'ere for. Perhaps you could let a couple of 'em criminals go, and leave our symbol while you're at it." Raven said, the pair nodded and it was Toby who answered.

"Yes, sir!" He said with a mock salute before the two took off running, leaving Raven to do what The Claws had originally come here to do.

Raven watched as the two ran out of his sight, Rufus probably thought he was out of character. Toby would know better, after all Toby knew him the best but... he didn't know the truth about Raven. Raven, in truth, was constantly worried about the others in his gang, he didn't know if they counted him as a friend but he definitely counted them as one.

With a loud sigh, Raven shoved his hood down and ran a hand through his black hair that was getting a tad to long for his face. Raven promptly moved the straight hair out of his eyes and set off through the prison.

Moments into his search Raven heard the alarms going off, the alarm which was a bell, tolled loudly. The bell echoed throughout the prison, the clamour masking all sounds. Raven started running down the empty hallway, but couldn't help but smirk at the fact that the alarm was quite a bit late. Raven came to a slow halt and edged carefully around the corner, making sure that there were no guards around him.

Raven sprinted down the corridor, before stopping at the second passageway leading off to the left. Raven waited two minutes to catch his breath before carefully peaking around the corner. He held his breath as he spotted all the guards along the corridor. He could make out the silver gleam of their armour as the torch flames flickered causing the shadows to jump and stir.

Raven peeked around the corner once more, this time his gaze settled on a spiral wooden staircase on the right. Raven hid back behind the corner, blocking him from sight once again. Raven knew that the staircase led to where what he needed was. How he knew this he didn't know, but he knew he needed to get up there.

Raven grabbed a dagger from his hip and held it in his left hand, in his right hand an identical dagger was being held. A sudden clamour in his ear caused Raven to jerk backwards, just in time to save his life. A shiny, steel axe hit the stone chipping some off the wall. Raven cursed loudly and sidestepped, spinning at the same time in order to face his new opponent. It was then that Raven realised how silent everything had fallen, meaning that the alarm wasn't being rung anymore.

Raven knew how dangerous the situation was, the guard was likely stronger, experienced and better at using his weapon. Not to mention the fact he had a longer reach and more strength behind it. One hit from the axe and Raven would have to reconsider a new escape plan.

Lunging forward in hopes of taking the guard off guard, Raven swiped at the man with his dagger. The dagger made a tiny scratch in the armour before Raven was forced to back off or be grievously injured.

I took off at a run, sheathing my daggers as I ran. The man behind me grunted, momentarily confused, then I heard the clattering of armour and knew that he was being followed. A startled yell made the six guards look at Raven and his follower.